Apparatus for dispensing measured volumes of paint



May 22, 1956 R. E. GROSSMAN ET AL 2,746,548

APPARATUS FOR D-ISPENSING MEASURED VOLUMES OF PAINT Filed Jan. 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PA LPH E. GROSSMAN hERMA/v l/V Dore/v INVENTORS ATTORN EY United States Patent APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING MEASURED VOLUMES OF This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing measured volumes of paint.

The invention is more particularly concerned with an improved apparatus which is manually operable and which is adapted to simultaneously fill a plurality of paint receptacles with difierent colors of paint and which receptacles are adapted for use in painting kits.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a paint dispensing apparatus which is characterized by a plurality of reservoirs having different color paints therein and Which reservoirs are subjected to air pressure above the paint supplies therein and wherein each reservoir has associated therewith conduit and rotary valve means for simultaneous discharge of paint from the several reservoirs under the said air pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paint dispensing apparatus of the general character above referred to which is relatively simple in construction and which is capable of quick dis-assembly and assembly for facilitating the cleansing thereof as in preparation for use of other colors of paint. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the improved apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof,

Fig, 2 is an end elevational view as observed from the right of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in section of a rotary valve housing forming part of the apparatus and in which the volumes of paint are measured and from which such volumes are discharged into individual paint receptacles.

Fig, 4 is a fragmental view partly in top plan and partly in horizontal section. I

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view as observed in the plane of line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the valves in paint dispensing position.

Fig. 7 is an inner elevational view of one of the unitary valve and gear elements.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental outer side elevational view of one of the valve seat plates.

Fig. 9 is an isometric view of one end of the rotary valve housing with the pinion supporting end plate in elevated position and partly broken away.

Referring now in detail to the. drawings, the apparatus will be seen to comprise a plurality of paint reservoirs 10 which as shown are preferably of elongated cylindri al form and disposed vertically. While the reservoirs are shown as to comprise two longitudinal series of seven each, they may be less or greater in number.

The reservoirs 10 are each provided with a lid 11 which is held in position by a pivoted bail 12 having a set screw 13 removably engageable with the center of the lid and the two series of reservoirs are preferably bound together by a looped strap 14.

The apparatus further comprises i compressed air tank 14 which is provided with a pressure gauge 15 and a "ice conduit 16 is in communication with the tank and each reservoir at the top thereof.

The tank 14 is adapted for connection with an aircompressor as through a conduit 17 fragmentally indicated in Fig. l.

The apparatus further comprises a rotary valve housing 18, or what may aptly be termed a paint measuring and delivering housing. This housing is of elongated rectangular form and extends horizontally in parallel relation with the tank 14 with the vertically disposed reservoirs 10 therebetween.

As is more clearly indicated in Figs. 3 to 6, this housing comprises a frame including a central vertically disposed plate 19 to each of whose two opposite side walls is suitably secured a valve seat plate 20 which is providecl with a plurality of frusto-conical seats 21.

The valve seat plates are provided with vertically aligned pairs of ports 22 so arranged that each pair thereof is disposed diametrically of a valve seat 21 and opens through the bearing wall thereof, as is clearly indicated in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The frame further includes a top horizontal plate 23 which is rigid with plate 19 and disposed at right angles thereto.

The housing 18 further comprises a pair of opposite side walls 24 whose upper edges are pivotally connected to the lateral edges of plate 23 by means of hinges 25 and the walls 24 are normally retained in vertical operative position by means of a plurality of clamps 26. Each of the clamps includes an elongated body portion 27 whose inner end is pivotally connected to the lower edge of plate 19 as indicated at 28 and the outer end thereof includes a right angularly disposed portion 29 in which is threaded a wing bolt 30 having a conical end 31 for seating engagement with a corresponding recess 32 in the adjacent wall 24.

The clamp body portions 27 are preferably provided with lugs 33 for limiting inward movement of the walls 24 under the action of bolts 30.

The upper ports 22 are in communication with individual reservoirs 10 through conduits 34 which extend through the bottom walls of the reservoirs and through the plate 23.

Paint delivery nozzles 35 depend from the housing 18 and whose upper ends communicate with the lower ports 22 and the lower free ends of the nozzles are disposed for delivery of paint into cups C suitable for use in painters kits.

,Co-operating with each valve seat 21 is a valve '36 which is integral with a gear 37. The valve is rotatable within the seat and is provided with a frusto-conical bearing wall 38 for seating engagement with a corresponding seat 21.

Each valve 36 is provided with a diametrical bore 39 whose opposite ends open through the bearing wall 38 and a piston 39 is freely supported in each bore.

In the operative positions of the valves, the bores 39 are in the vertical planes of the upper and lower ports 22 and are adapted to communicate therewith in a manner later to appear.

The gears 37 are rotatably supported by means of the bearing engagement of the valves 36 with the seats 21 and by means of adjusting screws 40 which are thread edly engaged in the walls 24 and whose inner conical ends 41 engage with corresponding seats 42 in the outer walls of the gears 37.

As will be seen, there is a longitudinal series of valves and gears at each side of the plate 19 and the various elements are so proportioned that the gears of each series are in mesh.

The housing 18 further includes an end plate 43 whose upper end is pivotally connected to one end of the horizontal frame plate 23 as by means of a hinge 44. The end plate is provided with a pair of cars 45 which project inwardly from its opposite side edges and into recesses 46 in the housing walls 24.

A shaft 47 is rotatably journalled within the ears and a pair of pinions 48 are secured to said shaft adjacent its opposite ends for meshing engagement with the adjacent gears 37 of the two series thereof, whereby all of the gears rotate in unison.

One end of the shaft is engageable by a crank 49 for manually rotating the shaft, pinions and the two series of gears.

The end plate is retained in vertical operative position by means of a wing bolt 50 which is threadable into one end of the frame plate 19.

It is to be observed that the pinions 48 are provided with one-half the number of teeth on the gears 37 whereby the gears will be rotated through an angle of 180 for each complete rotation of the pinions.

In operation of the apparatus as above described, the reservoirs 10 are supplied with paint of any desired colors which can be readily introduced into the reservoirs upon removal of the lids 11.

The bodies of paint in the reservoirs 10 are constantly subjected to air pressure from the tank 14 and the communicating conduits 16 with the result that the paint from each reservoir is maintained within the conduits 34 and in contact with the'frusto-conical bearing walls 38 of the valves 36 at all times except when the bores 39 are aligned with the ports 22.

The gears and valves are so assembled that the bores 39 in the various valves 36 are always parallel and assume a vertical paint dispensing position in unison.

The gears 37 are rotated in unison by means of the pinions 48 which are manually rotated by means of the crank 49. Upon each rotation of the crank, measured volumes of paint are dispensed into the cups C. I

Referring to Figs. and 6, it is to be observed that the pistons 39 move from an upper position (Fig. 5) to a lower position (Fig. 6) each time the bores 39 are aligned with the upper and lower ports 22.

As indicated in these figures, when the bores 39 and ports 22 are initially aligned, the pistons 39 are at the tops of thebores 39 with the lower portions of the bores not occupied by the pistons filled with measured volumes of paint. In this position however, the pistons 39 are instantly forced downward under air pressure to the position of Fig. 6 with a corresponding discharge of paint through the lower ports 22 and nozzles 35 and into the cups C.

While the pistons 39 are moving downwardly in the dispensing of paint, the upper portions of the bores 39 as in Fig. 6 are filled with paint and the pistons 39 are at the upper ends of the bores 39 as in Fig. 5 upon the next rotation of the crank 49.

Due to the substantially heavy body or consistency of the paint used in the apparatus, and the regulated and substantially low air pressure utilized, no air penetrates the paint while in the apparatus, since the air pressure is just sufficient to cause the natural flow of the paint therethrough, and not enough to cause it to spurt out as though under high pressure. Furthermore, the consistency of the paint is such that it will not gravitationally drip from the nozzles 35.

By the provision of the hinged side walls 24 and the hinged end plate 43, the valves and gears may readily be removed for cleaning preparatory to the change in color of the paints or at the close of a days work.

After replacement of the valves and gears the side walls 24 are locked in vertical position by the clamps 27 after which the valves 26 are brought into proper engagement with the valve seats 21 by means of the adjusting screws 40 which are thereafter locked in position by means of locknuts 40*.

While we have disclosed our invention in accordance with a single specific structural embodiment thereof, such is to be considered as illustrative only, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the sub-joined claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

l. Apparatus for dispensing measured volumes of paint, comprising a plurality of vertically disposed elongated paint reservoirs, an elongated horizontal housing disposed below said reservoirs, means for introducing air pressure into the upper ends of said reservoirs, an elongated valve plate in said housing provided with a series of frusto-conical valve seats equal in number to that of the reservoirs, upper and lower vertically aligned ports in said plate opening through the wall of each valve seat in diametrical relation thereto, a conduit connecting each upper port with one of said reservoirs, a paint discharge nozzle communicating with each lower port and depending from said housing, a paint measuring and dispensing valve rotatably supported in each of said seats, and manual means for simultaneously rotating all of the valves.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein each of said valves comprises a circular body member having a frusto-conical periphery for seating engagement with a corresponding valve seat, a bore extending through said body member diametrically thereof and opening through said periphery, and a free floating piston disposed within said bore for the purpose set forth.

3. The structure according to claim 2, wherein said manual means comprises a gear unitary with each valve, said gears being in meshing engagement, a pinion in driving engagement with one of said gears, and a crank operatively connected to the pinion for imparting rotation thereto, with a resulting rotation of said gears and associated valves.

4. The structure according to claim 3, wherein said gears each have a number of teeth which is twice the number of teeth on the pinion for alignment of the bores with the upper and lower ports upon each full rotation of the pinion and each half rotation of the gears for the purpose set forth.

5. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said first means comprises a compressed air tank, and a conduit communicating with each reservoir and said tank.

6. The structure according to claim 1, together with an elongated housing including a vertical central plate, said valve plate being disposed in contact with and secured to one side of the first plate.

7. The structure according to claim 6, together with a second valve plate disposed in contact with and secured to the opposite side of said first plate, said second valve plate being provided with frusto-conical valve seats, a paint measuring and dispensing valve rotatably supported in each of said last seats, and said last valves being rotated with said first valves by said rotating means.

8. The structure according to claim 7, wherein said housing further includes a horizontal top plate, opposite side walls having their upper edges pivotally connected to opposite edges of said top plate and clamp means pivotally connected to the lower edge of said vertical plate and engageable with the lower edges of the side walls.

9. The structure according to claim 8, wherein each of said valves is unitary with a driven gear, and adjusting screws threaded through said side walls and eugageable with said gears for the purpose set forth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,049,478 Hedgcock Jan. 7, 1913 1,676,377 Bergmann July 10, 1928 1,861,734 Bergmann June 2, 1932 1,990,926 Bergmann Feb. 12, 1935 2,569,928 Gonzalez Oct. 2, 1951 2,660,340 Thompson Nov. 24, 1953 

